Reported Speech
When you report what someone said, the tense usually moves one step into the past — and time/place words change too.
⏳ Tense Backshift
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|
| "I am tired" | She said she was tired |
| "I am working" | He said he was working |
| "I have finished" | He said he had finished |
| "I will call" | She said she would call |
| "I can swim" | She said she could swim |
| "I must leave" | She said she had to leave |
🕑 Time & Place Words Change Too
| Direct | Reported |
|---|
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the next day |
| yesterday | the day before |
| here | there |
| now | then |
💡 Why the change?
Reported speech is usually said later and/or in a different place, so words that pointed to "here and now" have to point to "there and then" instead.